Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-12-25
VIGOROUS AGED MEN
MORE THAN THREE SCORE AND TIN, YET
ACTIVE IN MIND.
A Remarkable Array Of Shrswd Business Men and
Intellectual Giants-Aged Nlnety-Nine and
Running a RailNad-P. 7,
Barnum's VigOr.

There are a great many men in this
country who, although four score years old,
are yet working with the vigor of young
fellows of thirty-five. Writers for the
New York Sun, who began making in
Quiries about them found so many Of them
that a volume would he required to tell
who they are, and how active are their
brains and their bodies. A few of those
who have accomplished something and are
yet adding to their regulations are men
toned below. What fine specimens Of
manhood they are, to be sure; and what
promise of long life and brilliant old age
they give to youths and middle aged men.
George Bancroft was born October 3,
1900. in Worcester. He was the son of the
Rev. Aaron. He was educated at Har-
ward and in Germany. In 1923 he pub
lished his translation of Heeren's Politics
Of Ancient Greece" and a small volume
of poems. He had already determined
to write his great history, and he
Gan collecting materials for it. In
an Grafton at Northampton in 1926 he
avowed his principles TO be for
universal suffrage and uHcompromising
democracy. The first volume of his his.
tory of the United States appeared in
1884. He was appointed Collector Of Bos-
ton by President VanBuren, in 1898. He
then took an active part in politics, and
also became interested in the philosophical
movement called characterization. The
third volume of his history was
isshed in 1910. He was nomi-
mated for Governor of Massachusetts, nv
the Democratic party in 1874. He received
a bigger vote than any candidate on his
ticket ever got before. He was Sec etary
of the navy under President Polk, and es-
tablished the Naval Academy at Annap-
oils. While Secretary of the NAVY he gave
the order to take possession of California.
During his term of Office he was Secretary
Of War pro TEN. for a month, and ten
ordered General Taylor to march into
Texas. For MANY years afterward he con-
tinued in public life.
In MAY, 1867, he was made Minister to
Russia, and subsequently, accredited to
the German Empire. He resigned that
place in 1874. Since then he has resided
in the United States. Among his latest
published works are two volumes on the
Formation of the Federal Constitution. y
During his residence in Washington he hns
INDUCED in much equestrian exercise.
His most frequent companion IN his rides
has been Mr.. Spofford, the librarian. He
was a reckless horseman, and was thrown
nv his horse, Startle, several times. He
had his shoulder broken at Newport sew
eral years ago. He has spent much of the
latter wears of his busy and regular life
revising the earlier volumes OF his history
as well as finishing the last ones
The Rev. Thomas F. Vermylle, ID,
LID, is a New York pulpit representa-
tive of ripe old age, and adds TO his 9th T
distinctions that of retaining a fair share
of his powers in the years beyond four
score. He has no special theory to account
for this, and only knows that he has lived
regularly, az became the cloth, all his
DAYS. la the matter Of diet he has rot
been particular. The usual variety OF or
binary living and no restrictions as to tea
or coffee is the whole system of diet that
he has followed. Tobacco and liquors he
never uses.
DR.. VermiIye was born in New York,
February 81, 1903, when the city was
scarcely more than a village as compared
with what it is now. st. Johns Church
looked out upon the meadows where Canal
street now runs, and is far down town to
the most OF New York. Broadway was
crossed by the stone bridge at Canal, AM
even the New York Hospital, at Broad way
and Duane street, was quite up town
The Doctor has passed most of hi5 life
in his native city, and may certainly take
pride in the claim that he is a New York
er of the old stock. He was licensed and
ordained as a minister by the Presbytery
of New York, and was first settled in 1896
at the Vandewater Street Church. In 1899
DR.. Vermilye was called to this city
from Albany, where he had been preach.
ing as Junior pastor Of the Collegiate
Church. He was the last minister in
stalled in the Old Middle Church after.
ward used for 80 many years a. the post
office. Here he has remained for forty
seven years. He is, it is believed, the
senior pastor now in this city. Few have
sustained so long a ministry, yet he bears
the marks of but few of the intirmities OF
advanced age, although for several years
he has abstained from regular pulpit
services.
CAPTAIy Ohm ERICSSON.
One of the oldest, as we'll rs one of the
,,ost oct;ya in body and mind of the Old